US forces have boarded a fifth oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea as the Trump administration intensifies its campaign against vessels subject to sanctions over Venezuela oil exports.
US forces boarded another oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea on Friday as the Trump administration continues its crackdown on sanctioned vessels travelling to and from Venezuela.
The pre-dawn operation was carried out by US Marines and Navy personnel, part of a months-long military buildup in the region, according to US Southern Command. In announcing the seizure of the vessel, named Olina, Southern Command said there was “no safe haven for criminals.”
Unclassified footage shared on social media showed a US helicopter landing on the tanker and personnel conducting a deck search.
The Olina is the fifth tanker seized by US forces as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to control the global distribution of Venezuelan oil following the removal of President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise overnight raid.
A spokesperson for Southern Command told The Associated Press that the Navy and Marine Corps were supporting the Department of Homeland Security, which led the operation. The spokesperson declined to comment on whether the vessel was affiliated with Venezuela or under sanctions, referring such questions to the Justice Department and Homeland Security.
The latest seizure follows the interception of a Russian-flagged oil tanker leaving Venezuela in the North Atlantic two days earlier, after a weeks-long pursuit that involved Russian naval assets and was conducted with the knowledge and approval of the United Kingdom. The action drew a strong reaction from Moscow, with the Russian Transport Ministry stating that “no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in other states’ jurisdictions.”
At least three Indian nationals were among the 28-member crew of the Russian-flagged vessel Marinera. Moscow urged Washington to ensure the crew received dignified and humane treatment and called for the release of all foreign nationals as soon as possible.
On the same day, US forces also seized another tanker, the M/T Sophia, which they accused of “conducting illicit activities.”
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